Cemetery Gates

"Cemetery Gates" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo (though the band considers it their first "true" album, officially ignoring their earlier independent releases). "Cemetery Gates" showcases Anselmo's vocal ability and range, concluding with screaming high notes answered by Dimebag Darrell on guitar in a trade off. The lyrics lament the death of a female relative or friend and the prospect of dying or committing suicide and rejoining her in the afterlife. Presumably, the song is fictitious and not based on any real acquaintance of the band. "Cemetery Gates" received a large amount of air-play by rock stations, and has become one of Pantera's most popular songs. Guitar World magazine readers voted the song's solo the 35th greatest of all-time, which was Dimebag's 2nd highest ranking solo (after "Floods") After Dimebag's death, the song was performed by Dream Theater as a tribute during Gigantour. The band was joined on stage by Russell Allen of Symphony X for the first verse, Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory for the second verse and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth for the ending solo.

[Intro] Reverend, Reverend, is this some conspiracy? Crucified for no sins, an image beneath me What's within our plans for life, it all seems so unreal I'm a man cut in half in this world left in my misery [Verse 1] The Reverend he turned to me without a tear in his eyes Nothing new for him to see, I didn't ask him why I will remember the love our souls had sworn to make Now I watch the falling rain, all my mind can see now is your [Pre-Chorus] Well I guess you took my youth and gave it all away Like the birth of a new-found joy, this love would end in rage And when she died, I couldn't cry, the pride within my soul You left me incomplete, all alone as the memories now unfold [Chorus] Believe the word, I will unlock my door And pass the cemetery gates [Verse 2] Sometimes when I'm alone, I wonder aloud If you're watching over me, some place far abound I must reverse my life, I can't live in the past Then set my soul free, belong to me at last [Pre-Chorus] Through all those complex years, I thought I was alone I didn't care to look around and make this world my own And when she died, I should have cried and spared myself some pain You left me incomplete, all alone as the memories still remain [Chorus] The way we were, the chance to save my soul And my concern is now in vain Believe the word, I will unlock my door And pass the cemetery gates [Guitar Solo] [Chorus] The way we were, the chance to save my soul And my concern is now in vain Believe the word, I will unlock my door And pass the cemetery [Outro] Gates Gates Gates